Undergraduate Program Overview

                                 The Philosophy Major

Take a Closer Look at Philosophy

  • A Philosophy minor consists of 7 courses, including 4 required and 3 elective Philosophy 
    courses.
  • Philosophy fits into the MCC Foundation Tier, the Discovery Tier, and offers MCC Writing Intensive courses.
  • Philosophy faculty excels in teaching, mentoring, research, and academic mentoring.

Interested in a Philosophy Major?

The Major: consists of 10 courses (30 credit hours), including 3 required courses (9 credit hours), and 7 additional philosophy electives (21 credit hours).​

Required Courses:​

  • Logic: PHIL 1000 or 4000​
  • PHIL 1001: Foundations in Philosophy ​
  • CORE 4929: The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice​
  • Electives: Choose 7

The Advantages of a Philosophy Major

The philosophy program at Marquette challenges students to gain precision and clarity in their own thinking and to develop the skills to raise creative, critical questions and to see topics and issues from a fresh point of view. The philosophy department offers opportunities for interaction with faculty, presentations and lectures from guest speakers, as well undergraduate groups designed for students interested in philosophy. 

In addition to PHIL 1001 and CORE 4929 that are required for all undergraduates at Marquette, the Philosophy major requires students to take one Logic course (PHIL 1000 / PHIL4000) and seven additional courses in philosophy. Students will work with their advisors to choose seven courses in Philosophy that match their interests. With their advisor’s approval, students may choose one upper-level course outside philosophy that is relevant to their philosophical interests. 

Learning outcomes: 

  1. Interpret challenging written material clearly.
  2. Analyze arguments effectively.
  3. Create strong arguments and offer objections to the arguments of others and themselves.

Overview: Phil Minor

Interdisciplinary Minors



Undergraduate Philosophy Opportunities and Resources


Key Program Takeaways to a Philosophy Degree

Key Program Takeaways

  • Explore enduring questions
    Focus on questions that are fundamental for all people: How should we live—individually and socially? What gives our lives meaning and purpose? What should we believe, and how can we be confident that our beliefs are true? These are the questions that have occupied philosophers for centuries, and that occupy us as we live our lives. Philosophy seeks to give rigorous, well thought out answers to these questions, or, at least, to help us frame the right approaches in the search for truth.
  • Work towards the Marquette goal of becoming informed global citizens
    Explore fundamental questions of social justice, race, gender, immigration, human rights, etc.
  • Develop critical thinking skills
    Gain precision and clarity in your own thinking: learn to construct and evaluate arguments, compare and contrast different positions, formulate and solve problems, study topics from various points of view. Develop the skills to raise creative, critical questions—to think ‘out of the box—and to see topics and issues from a fresh point of view.
  • Develop independence as a thinker
    Learn to take and defend your own positions; to accept constructive criticism and reevaluate your own positions; to take the viewpoint of others and creatively and rigorously relate it to your own views.
  • Interact with faculty and classmates
    Dialogue with others — it’s absolutely vital to studying philosophy. The philosophy department offers opportunities for interaction with faculty, presentations and lectures from guest speakers, as well undergraduate groups designed for students interested in philosophy